Texas GOP to Stop Law Firms From Paying for Abortion Travel and Expenses

• The Texas Flexibility Caucus despatched a letter to the legislation firm Sidley Austin LLP. 
• The letter explained laws will be released to prohibit legislation companies from spending for abortion travel.
• “Conduct yourselves appropriately,” the letter cautioned.

The Texas Liberty Caucus, a legislative caucus in the Texas Household of Reps, despatched a threatening letter to a legislation business with spots in Dallas and Houston that planned to reimburse travel prices for staff seeking an abortion.

In the letter, which was resolved to Sidley Austin LLP, the 11 reps of the caucus wrote that legislation will be released to impose civil and criminal sanctions on law companies that fork out for abortion or abortion vacation.

“We are composing to advise you of the effects that you and your colleagues will facial area for these actions,” it reported.

The proposed laws will prohibit any employer in the point out from having to pay for elective abortions or reimbursing abortion-linked prices irrespective of wherever the abortion occurs. In accordance to these lawmakers, private citizens will be allowed to sue any one who pays for an elective abortion performed on a Texas resident. 

If passed, the legislation will grant The Condition Bar of Texas to disbar any attorney who has violated any abortion statutes. 

The Texas Liberty Caucus explained Sidley had aided or abetted drug-induced abortions that violate the Texas Heartbeat Act, a law that bans abortions at about 6 months of being pregnant. In accordance to the letter, litigation is currently underway to determine staff members who may well have been concerned.

“To the extent that Sidley is facilitating abortions performed in violation of posting 4512.1, it is exposing by itself and each of its companions to felony prison prosecution and disbarment.”

In accordance to an email seen by Bloomberg Legislation, Sidley explained it would protect abortions and related travel prices for employees in states where by restrictions are likely into influence. 

On June 24, the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade, a lawful precedent from 1973 that produced abortion legal across the US. 

Last yr, Condition Senate Invoice 8 took influence in Texas which outlawed abortion about six weeks of gestation, even in conditions of rape and incest. The most recent ruling will generate legal penalties for these who accomplish or support abortions at all phases of being pregnant. 

The letter was supported by the 11 conservative Texas lawmakers and concluded: “Conduct yourselves appropriately.”

Sidley Austin LLP and The Texas Flexibility Caucus did not quickly reply to Insider’s ask for for comment.